Frostproof sillcock



Jan. 22, 1963 D. FLETCHER ETAL 3,074,424

FROSTPROOF SILLCOCK Filed April 18. 1960 INVENTORS DONALD L.PLTGHER BYJOHN D.STALTER ATTNEYS ates This invention relates to a frostproofsillcock. More particularly, this invention relates to a water faucetnormally placed at about sill height on the outside of a building. Thisinvention is characterized by its structural arrangements contributingto improved maintenance, reliability and long life.

The silicock consists of a tubular member having at its outer end athreaded portion in which is threadedly received a removable spout orbody portion. The tubular member is normally mounted in the building.The body portion extends beyond the plane of the building and is readilyremovable from the tubular member by unthreading the connectiontherebetween. The valve seat which is subject to wear, due to long andcontinued operation, is normally positioned in one of two ways in thetubular member against an internal shoulder. The body adjustablysupports the stem which carries the valve in such a manner as to movethe valve toward and away from the valve seat to close and open thesillcock.

A tool may be utilized to place the valve seat on the shoulder of thetubular member prior to the body being threadedly engaged with thetubular member. After the valve and/or valve seat has been subjected towear it is necessary to replace the wearing part(s). This may be easilyaccomplished by removing the body, which carries the stem and valvetherewith, and inserting a tool into the tubular member to remove thevalve seat. In another embodiment, the same essential parts aregenerally utilized except that means are provided so that the valve stemmay carry and insert the valve seat against the internal shoulder,wherein the valve still functions in the normal manner so as to movetoward and away from the valve seat. The same means are utilized inremoving the valve seat without the necessity of a separate tool. Ineffect, a sub-assembly, including the body portion, valve stem, valveand valve seat is provided for insertion as a unit into the tubularmember without the necessity of utilizing an independent tool forinserting or removing the valve seat. This is accomplished by looselylocating the valve seat inbetween the anti-rattle fingers, carried by arod connected to the stem and the valve.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sillcockhaving a removably mounted valve seat therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sillcockcomprising a tubular member and a valve sub-assembly adapted to beinserted as a unit into said member, said sub-assembly providing meansfor carrying a valve seat and locating the seat in the tubular member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved sillcockcomprising a tubular member and a valve sub-assembly adapted to beinserted as a unit into said member, said sub-assembly providing meansfor carrying a valve seat and locating the seat in the tubular member,said means further providing means for removing the valve seat with theremoval of the valve sub-assembly from the tubular member.

A feature of the present invention is to provide an improved sillcockhaving a tubular member which is held in the foundation of a building, abody threadedly secured to the outside part of the tubular member, avalve stem mounted in said body and extending into said member, saidstem providing means for locating a valve seat in the 3,7 i, i4 PatentedJan. 22, 1953 tubular member and carrying a valve therewith which isregisterable with the valve seat, said valve seat and valve beingremovable with the stem as a unit by initially removing the body fromthe tubular member and exerting an axial force to lift the stem, valveand seat from the tubular member.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, illustrating preferred embodiments of theinvention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational sectional view of the present invention,taken on line 11 of FIGURE 2.

FZGURE 2 is an end view taken on line 2-2 in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view showing another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FEGURE 4 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow 4-4 of FIGURE3.

FEGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 1 shows a tubular member 10 having an internaily threaded end 12at the flange end of the member and having an internally and externallythreaded end at the other end represented by numerals 14 and 16respectively. The flange end consists of a flange 18 which is generallyannular. The tubular member 10 is generally mounted in the foundation ofa building or similar structure.

The threaded end 12 normally projects outwardly from the foundation ofthe building. The other end of the tubular member it may have aninternally or externally threaded member connected thereto so as toengage either of the threaded portions 14 or 16. The tubular member 10has an internal shoulder 20. The member 10 is usually inserted in thefoundation before the sub-assembly, comprising the remaining parts ofthe valve structure, is inserted therein.

Generally, after the tubular member it is fixed in position, the outerbody 22, which forms part of the subassembly, is threadedly engaged withthe threaded end 12 of the body 10 through the externally threadedportion 24. The body 22 generally has a somewhat smaller diameter thanthe tubular member 10. The body 22 has an internally threaded portion 26and an opening 28 in the top portion thereof. A valve stem 30 isthreadedly inserted into the body 22 with the outer portion 32 thereofextending outwardly from the opening 23 with the threaded part 34 of theshaft 30 engaging the threaded portion 26 of the body 22. A handle 36 isconnected to the outer end 32 of the stem 30 by appropriate fasteningmeans, such as the nut and bolt arrangement 38 as shown.

The body 22 includes a portion which is axially in line with the tubularmember 10 and, in addition thereto, has a spout portion 4%? with anexternally threaded end 42. Appropriate packing 44 is retained by apacking nut 4-6, which is secured to the threaded end as of the body 22.Obviously, the packing 44 helps to prevent leakage across the valve stem30 at the point where the stem 39 emerges from the threaded end 48.

The other end of the valve stem 30 is somewhat enlarged and has adrilled hole 52 therein. A rim 54 is provided at the outer end of thevalve stem 3%) for positioning the valve disc fill, as will besubsequently described in more detail.

The valve rod 56 has a shoulder 58 thereon which carries the valve 60.The lower end 57 of rod 56, on the other side of the shoulder 58, has aplurality of fingers 62 secured thereto. Prior to the valve 60 beingplaced on the rod 56 and the rod 56 being connected to 52 of the valvestem 30. A pin '76, or similar means, -is used to secure the rod 56' tothe lower end of the stem 30. It should be observed that the valve seat64 is loosely located inbetween the valve 60 and fingers 62 prior toassembling.

'After the valve unit has been connected to the valve stem 36 and is, inturn, threadly connected to the body 22, the body 22'is threaded intoengagement with the threaded end 12 of the tubular member 10. As aresult thereof, the valve stem 34 and the associated valve 4 componentsextend axially into the tubular member it}. The body 22, stem'fitl andthe valve components form a sub-assembly which is readily adaptable forinsertion "as a unit into the tubular member 10.

As the valve stem 30 and the valve components carried thereby moveaxially into the tubular member is,

f the valve'seat 64 is loosely carried by the rod 56. Pinally, the valveseat 64 comes to rest on the shoulder 29 of the tubular member 10. Asufficient force must be applied to the valve stem 30 so as to place thevalve "seat 64 in the proper position against the shoulder 28. It'shouldbe observed that the fingers 62 are smaller in length than the internaldiameter of the lower part of member 16, and, hence do not interferewith the asj sembling of the seat 64.

The valve 60 is shown in a closed position in FIG- URE l. .The watergenerally flows in the direction of the solid arrows; namely, into thethreaded end 14, across the valve seat 64 and out through the spoutportion 4%. Obviously, the spout portion 49 may be opened or may havesuitable conduit means connected therewith, such as a garden hose.

In operation, all that is required is that the handle 36 be rdtated in adirection so as to move the valve stem 3% which carries the valve 60,upwardly. This, in turn, opens the valve 66 and permits the water toflow across the valve seat 64. It should be observed that the fingers 62are smaller in area as compared to the valve opening and, therefore, donot create a restriction of substantial size. When it is desirable toclose the valve, all that is required is that the handle 36 is rotatedso as to move the valve stem 30 downwardly into the tubular portionthereby moving the valve 60 into contact with the valve seat 64.

One of the problems in the industry has been the replacement of thevalve seat 64 and the valve 60 after considerable wear has taken place.This wear may be caused by continued operation over a long period oftime, or may be caused by the mineral effects of the water on the valveseat 64 and valve 60. In addition,

' frost andgenerally cold weather will have an adverse effect on thevalve. In any event, for whatever reason, it is sometimes required toreplace the valve seat 64 and valve 60. Previously, it was required toremove the entire sillcock assembly from the supporting structure. Thismethod required a considerable amount of time and labor, and complicatedthe maintenance problem. It was particularly diflicult to perform ininclement weather.

Our invention has overcome this basic problem by employing means forremoving the sub-assembly including the valve seat 64, valve 60, and thevalve stem'39 from the tubular member 10 as a unit. This is accomplishedin part by means of the fingers 62 which are carried by the rod 56.After thewater supply has been e terminated so that there is no flowacross the valve, the outer body 22 is rotated so as to remove itsthreaded end 24 from the threaded end 12 of the tubular member 10.Immediately after the threads 12 and 24 have been disengaged, an axialforce is exerted or applied to the body 22 in the direction of the rodso so that the fingers 62 are brought into engagementwith the bottom ofthe valve seat 64. An increased amount of force will lift the valve seat64 from the annular shoulder 26 after which the entire valvesub-assembly is removed from the tubular member 16" as a unit.

In order to replace the valve and valve seat, it is necessary that thepin '70 be removed and the rod 56 removed from the recess 52 of the stem39. The valve 69' and the valve seat 64 are then easily replaced on therod 56. After the replacement parts have been positioned on the rod, therod portion 68 is broughtinto engagement with the opening 52 and the pin70 connected or inserted. The sub-assembly is inserted in the tubularmember 16 in the manner previously described. From such a description,it is obvious that. the valve seat'and valve may be replaced in a shortperiod of time and with a minimum amount ofefiort.

The other embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGURES 3-5, isdescribed utilizing many of the numeral designations as applied toFIGURE 1 where similar parts are utilized. In essence, the inventiondiffers from the first embodiment in the valve structure. In thisembodiment the valve seat32 has a threaded portion 84 which isthreadedly engaged with the internal threads 66 of the lower part of thetubular member 16. The valve seat 52 includes a flange portion 88 whichengages the shoulder 95? of the tubular member 10. The valve seat 82 isinserted in and removed from the tubular member 10 by a tool, not shown.

The valve stem carries on the lower end thereof, four thin locatingmembers 92 which are appropriately secured to the shaft 3%. In addition,the conical valve disc carrying member 94 carries therewith the valvedisc 96 which is securedthereto by means of a screw 98. Screw 98 has aslot 10% therein which permits the screw to be readily removed so thatthe disc may be replaced. The bottom of the valve seat 82 has aplurality of toolcarryingnotches 102 which are substantially square andare formed on the inner periphery of the valve seat 84. The tool hasprojections to match the notches 102. After the body 22, whichcarriesthe stem 30 and disc 96 is removed from the tubular member 10,the tool is inserted in the notches 98 from the threaded end 16 androtated V in a direction so as to unthread or to disengage the threadedportion 84 from the threads 86.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description ofthe frostproof sillcock in such full, clear, concise and exact terms asto enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, thescope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. A sillcock comprising an elongated tubular member,

- an internal shoulder in said tubular member near one end thereof, anda removable sub-assembly for said tubular member comprising a bodythreaded to the other end of 'said tubular member, said body having apassage therein connected to the interior of said tubular member, anelongated valve stem movably carried by said body and having one endthereof extending into said tubular member, means for moving said valvestem lengthwise with respect to said tubular member, said one end ofsaid valve stem being provided with an axially aligned cavity whichopens toward said shoulder, an abutment on said one end of the stemsurrounding said cavity, a rod having an end portion in said cavity,means for securing said rod to said stem, a flange on said rod axiallyspaced from said abutment, a resilient'valve element interposed on saidstem and held against said abutment by the flange on said rod, apluralityof fingers on the other end portion of said rod, an

annular valve seat member removably mounted with a force fit in saidtubular member in abutting engagement with said shoulder, said rodextending freely through the passage in said seat member, said fingersbeing out of engagement with said seat member in the normal valvingmovement of said rod, said valve element and said stern being effectiveto urge said seat member into shoulder engaging position and saidfingers being effective to engage said seat member to move said seatmember away from said shoulder engaging position upon disassembly ofsaid body from said tubular member.

2. A sillcock defined in claim 1 wherein the first-mentioned end portionof said rod is in surface-to-surface contact with the wall of saidcavity.

3. A sillcock defined in claim 2 wherein the means for securing said rodto said stem includes a removable pin.

4. A sillcock defined in claim 2 wherein the means for securing said rodto said stem is in the form of a pin which has an axis substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of said stem.

5. A sillcock defined in claim 1 wherein said valve seat is providedwith an annular groove on the outer periphery thereof which receives anO-ring seal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS926,190 Hunsberger June 29, 1909 1,586,346 Wilson May 25, 1926 2,808,069McCurdy .4... Oct. 1, 1957

1. A SILLCOCK COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER, AN INTERNALSHOULDER IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER NEAR ONE END THEREOF, AND A REMOVABLESUB-ASSEMBLY FOR SAID TUBULAR MEMBER COMPRISING A BODY THREADED TO THEOTHER END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID BODY HAVING A PASSAGE THEREINCONNECTED TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, AN ELONGATED VALVESTEM MOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID BODY AND HAVING ONE END THEREOF EXTENDINGINTO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID VALVE STEM LENGTHWISEWITH RESPECT TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID ONE END OF SAID VALVE STEMBEING PROVIDED WITH AN AXIALLY ALIGNED CAVITY WHICH OPENS TOWARD SAIDSHOULDER, AN ABUTMENT ON SAID ONE END OF THE STEM SURROUNDING SAIDCAVITY, A ROD HAVING AN END PORTION IN SAID CAVITY, MEANS FOR SECURINGSAID ROD TO SAID STEM, A FLANGE ON SAID ROD AXIALLY SPACED FROM SAIDABUTMENT, A